Machine for forming screw propellers



Dec. 16, 1930. w. F. NEwBRoUGH 1,784,972

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW PROPELLERS Filed May 28, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nwfw m l Dec. I6, 1930.

W. F. NEWBROUGH NACHNE FOR FORMING SCREW PROPELLERS Filed May 28,. 1928 Alllll! 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1930. w. F. NEwBRoUGH 1,784,972

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW PROPELLERS Filed May 2B, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. '16, 1930. w. F. NEWBROUGH 1,784,972

MACHINE FOR FORMING SCREW PROPELLERS Filed May 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec'. 16, 193e Unirse jsra 'res warren I1 Niiwnnonen, OF'WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA AssIGNoR or ONE-Italiano WILLIAM LAMBIE, or WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA l fMAcrIINE Fon FonivIINerY scItW-rnorfaLLEns f -i Application' filed May 28,

castingthe screwpropellers by Ahand and tol tool the screw propellers o r grind the same by means of tools held and Vdriven 1n no particular or definite manner so that the truing and tooling or grinding ofthe screw propellers rafter they have been cast has also been practically a matter of guesswork, depending upon trial and error to obtain even slight accuracy in the .pitch ofthe propellers.- In driving aship, (orair craft) kparticularly when traveling through the water with-such propeller-s, vibrations are set up which are traceable directly to the fact that the proT pellers are not of accurate pitch. x

lt is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a machine forlforming accurately, patterns for the casting of screw propellers.

Another object ofthis invention is to'provide a machinel adapted for use in tooling the cast propellers to accurate pitch.

Aifinother object of this invention is to provide a machine for making screw propellers, which includes means for accurately holding the forming tool in position perpendicularly to each pitch angle of the propeller blade during the forming of said propeller. l

Other objects and advantages of this invention, it isbelieved, will be apparent `from the following detailet description of a preterred.embodiment thereof, as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: f l

Figui-e1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying this invention.

`Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.' Y

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof'taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.V

Figure 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figurel.`

Figure 5 is anend sectional view illustrat- 1928. serial No. 281,304.

ing the manner of supporting lthewvorking tool hangeron the tracksia'nd swivel connecting means for the chord determining arm embodied inthis invention. v y

F igureG is a side elevation partly broken away of a modiied form'oi my invention y Figure 7 isa .front elevation andsection takeny along the line 7 7 in Figure 6p y,

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal seca tion of one portion of the modified form of my invention taken along'v the line 3 8v in Figure 6.'. p 'l Figure 9 is an. enlarged horizontal section taken along'the line 9 9 inFigureG.

In th preferred embodiment ofwthis in vention,` illustrated in the. accompanying drawings, l indicates a base to which a workk support 2 is adjustably secured; Secured to the support Q'at its lower end arod 3,

the rod 3 being likewise supported-,atits upper end, as illustratedat 41 jvJournalemd on the rod 3 is a sleeve.V The `sleeve 5 is provided with a bearing 6 through which the sleeve 5 ispermitted'to move vertically. 'A shaft 13 is journaled in one @sidefof the bearing 6. This shaftv 13 caries a bevel pinion and a spur gear, thereby providing means adapted to raisel and lower 'a forming tool 7, as describedhereinafter. v i y Themeans provided for raisingand, low.- ering lthe tool 7 may be of any suitable or desirable constructiomas is wellVY understood in the art, andare herein illustrated as includingspaced guide rods -"Sand 9 which are secured to the tools rotating'means,in a manner `which will hereinafter be .described, through a bracket 1()` secured to the ysleeveV 5. The rods 8 and 9 are secured at theirgupper ends to a plateV bracket` 11',

which is secured to the top of the sleeve.

Supported between the rods 8 and 9 in order to permit the'same to reciprocate 'vertically is a pulley 12'within'which ashaft 13 is rotatablymounted. The shaft 13 carriesa bevel piniony gear 14 in mesh with a bevel geark rack 15 which isv secured to a bracket 16. The bracket 16is heldin position by meansof arms 17.whichare secured to a stationary support. A` split-collar 18 holdsbearing-6 contact with bearing 19 supported by a bracket 16 and on bearing 6 provides an extension 20 for supporting abearing 21 within which the shaft 13 rotates. To the shaft 13 is secured a gear 22 which meshes with a pinion 23 secured to a shaft 24. The shaft24 is journaled in a bearing 25 which is adjustably mounted', as -indicvated at 26, on an arm 27 secured tothe bearing 6. VThe shaft 24 carries agear 28. which meshes with arack 129 vsecured tothe sleeve 5. Angular motion of rods 30 and 31 about spindle 3 rotates the bracket .1()A and rods 8 and 9, which through contact' with pulley 12 cause the bevel pinion 14 carried by the shaft 13 to travel on the arc 15 and to rotate the shaft 13; The rotation of the shaft 13 raises and lowers the sleeve 5 through the rotation of the gears 22, pinion 23Y and gear 28. V

The gear 28 being held stationaryat -its axis and rotating in mesh `with the rack 29 causes the sleeve 5 to raise and lower on the rod 3. The'raising and lowering of the sleeve 5 maintainslthe tool 7 `in position to form the propeller or propellers pattern to the "correct pitch. The pitchV to which the tool 7 will form the propeller blade is regu- P lated by changing'the gears 22 and' 28 Vand the pinion 23. The screw turning machine thus provided at all ltimes maintains the cutting tool in proper position to form the propeller'v or propeller pattern to the pitch desired as the toolV is rotated' through anv arc about rod 3. Y

In order to maintain the tool 7 in position perpendicular or at right angles to each pitch angle of the propeller blade during the formof said propeller or propeller pattern, means of the following construction are provided: A pair of spaced tracks 30 and 31 are sey cured to arms 32 and 33, respectively. The

arms 32 and 33 are preferably formed integral with the sleeve 5. A pair of brackets 34 and 35 are secured to the arms 32 and 33, respectively. Radius rods 36 and 37 Vare adjust-ably secured, as'indicated at 38'and 39, to the brackets 34 and 35, respectively. The radius rods andtracks are secured at their opposite ends to a bracket 40. rlhe bracket 40 is supported by means of brace rods 41 which are secured at their'ends 42 to the plate 11. The radius rods 36fand 37 Vare adjustably secured by means of collars dius rods 36 and 37 are preferably located in the same vertical plane and the tracks and radius rods are horizontally parallel.

Means are provided between the tracks 30 and 31 and radius rods 36 and 37 for mains taining the tool 7 at right angles or perpendicular to eachpitchangle of the propeller as indicated at 51, and the radius rods 36 and 37 extend through the slots 51. At any particular point in its path, as tool 7 is moved longitudinally of the patternor casting, the arms 49vare constrained to turn about the rods 30 and 31, the angle through which they move being determined by the horizontall and vertical distance between tracks 30 and 31 and radius rods-36 and 37. The angle made by the member 49 to the horizontal plane at any point on the tracks 30 and 31 is the pitch angle of the propeller blade at that same distance from the centerof the propeller, and the angularnrotion of member 49 about the rods or tracks 30 and 3l causes thev suport48, arm 46 and tool 7 to move horizontally and vertically, so that the tool will touch the propeller surface at the proper position, that is, it will be tangential to the surface on a radial line. For example, at av point near the center of the propeller or near the spindle` 3, the pitch angle is large, while at points further away from the center it' be` comes gradually smaller. The bracket 40 is adjustably mounted on the brace rods41 in order to permit the tracks 30 and 31 and radius rods 36 and 37 to be inclined vertically at their vouter ends to enable the tool 7 to form the propeller blade to any desired angle other than a square thread as would be formed with the tracks and radius rods in the position indicated inthe drawings.

The operation of the machine embodying this invention is as follows:

Considering the machine as set for the production of a screw thread of a pitch of, for example, 48 inches and with the radius rods 36 and 37 set .at angles of 15 from the tracks 30 and 31, the gears 23 and 28 and gear pinion 22 are fixed by their ratios to carry the tracks 30 and 31 through that pitch in a manner which is well understood in the art of forming screw threads. The vertical spacings of the radius rods 36 and 37 from the respective tracks 30 and 31 is adjusted and the distance of the centers of said radius lrods from the centers of said tracks is calculated in they following manner rlhe angle between the radius rods and track being 15 and the pitch being 48 inches, the distance of the centers of the tracks would be 15/360 of 48 or 2 inches. The screw to be formed is mounted upon the support 2 either in the form of a rough pattern or as the casting to betooled-to the exact correct pitch and the' tool operating means 45 setV in motion to operate the tool 7. The operator pattern or casting by sliding the support48 longitudinallyl along the tracks' 30` and3lduring which sliding movement of the support 48 the arms 49 operateto determinethe pitch angle of the arc upon which the tool7` is operating, thereby maintaining thetool 7 perpendicular or'at right angles to each pitch angle ofthe pattern or casting onwhich the tool is operating in anygiven position of the tool 7 relative to the said pattern or cast` ing. rllhe rotation of the tracks and 31y about rod 3 causes the rodsy 8 and 9 'to operate to shiftthe vertical position ofthe tracks 30 and 31 to correspond with the pre,- determined pitch of the thread being formed.

The form of apparatus shown in Figures 6 to 9 is a modification of my invention which diers in construction but not in mode of operation fromjhe mlhnes previously described herein. The side elevation shown in Figure 6 is partlybroken away. ln general,

the meansfor supporting the work and moving the forming tool 7 are similar'to those previously shown in the drawing. The rod or vertical guide 3 is shown firmly held by means of collars 60, or other suitable means, applied to each end of the guide 3 and connected to a suitable standard, partof a build-" ing or the like, 6l, so as to maintain the rod 3 in a fixed relation with the worksupports l and 2.

The sleeve 5 journaled on the guide 3 and movable thereon is provided witha spur gear 62 mounted near the upper end thereof. The

sleeve 5, together with bracket 63 and other members'connected therewith, may be caused to travel vertically upon the rod or guide 3' bymeans of suitable gearing which-Amay be set into motion by partial rotation of the sleeve 5 uponthe rod 3. For example, VVthe guide rod 64, radius rod 65, and threaded shaft 66, are connected to the sleeve'5fby` means'of a. horizontally pivotedbracket 67, the pivot pins being indicated at 68 (see F ig. 8). These elements are maintained in the required plane by means of arod orb-race 69 adjustab-ly connected to `an angular Ahead bracket 7 0 by a suitable connection 7l formed centrally of the bracket 7 0 and to the bracket 63 (mounted upon the upper portion of the sleeve 5 by means of a slot and p-in co-nnection r2. Arcuate adjustable connections 73 are provided in both connections 71 and 72 so as to allow the brace 69 to assume various angles with the vertical when the bracket head is raised or lowered. The bracket 63is provided with a downwardly extending extension `7 4 provided with -a i slot "7 5 .therein (seeli`i,f r.7).rL

y In suitable relation to the rack 62 mounted upon the sleeve.5`a-stationary'table or bracket 76 isprovid'ed. 'llo this table 76 a section ofa bevel ear-77 isattached b `suitable means g Y a as, for example, by the, y)fixed support '7 8. The apex of thegearcone should preferably fallin thecenterv off the vertical guide 3. i

r Asuppoit 79 is'provided,'said support be-.l

ing adapted to rotate in part about the guide 3, bearings being placed betweennthe support-79 and the xed support 78, orthe table 76. The support 79 carriesa gear 80'adapted toengage the'. rack 62, saidv gear 80 being mounted upon a shaft journaled in a bearing.

.8l which is adjustably mounted in al horizontal keyway or bed 82, said bed being rigidly connected withV the rotatable support 79.- Another gear 83 is also mounted upon the same shaft which carries gear 8O 'andmotionis imparted thereto through an idler gear 84 by means of a driven gear 85, which in turn is actuated by a bevel with'the quadrant gear 77. Gears 85. and 86 aremounted .upon aA common shaft 87, the outer end of this shaft extending into the slot 'provid-ed inthe bracket extension 74.

By describing an arc with the head bracket 70 and other connecting elements about the, s

et 74 which isconne'cted with the sleeve 5 by means of the member 63), thereby causing vthe gear 8O to move the sleeve 5 in a vertical plane. This vertical motion is also imparted to the elements connected to said sleeve, namely, the guide rod 64, radius rod 65, shaft 66 and cutting tool 7.. Y

` rlhe idler gear 84 is j ournaled in a pivoted carrier 8()v so that the same gear may be used on theother' side of thelongitudinal laxis of shaft 87, particularly when the bearing block 81, together with gears and .83, is moved along the keyway or bed 82 so as to cause the gear 8() to engage the other side of the spur gear 62 from that shown engaged in Figure 9.

l.The forming tool 7 is driven by vmeans of suitable gearing (not shown) by a motor 45 which isvprovide-d with means for adjusting the tool 7 operates. rlhe motor 45 and formingV tool 7 are supported by'means of a yoke 9l`suspended from a lever arm 92. `The lever arm 92 is journaled upon the guide 64 through a collar 93... Extending vfroml the collar 93 anarm 94 isprovided, the axis of gear 86 meshing the arm 94 being at right angles to the axis of the lever arm 92. The upper surface 4of the arm 94, however, should lie in a plane passing through the center of the Yguide rod 64 and the arm 94 passes beneath the radius rod 65 and during the operation of-the apparatus the upper portion of the arm 94 moved slidably in contact with the lower portion of the radius rod 65. The-elements 94, 93 and 92 constitute aflink, the yoke 91 depending from a pivoted connection 95 at the outer end of the lever 92.

the pivot pin 100 by means of which the up# per endof the yoke 97 is connected to the arms 92. A motion ofthe threaded shaft 66 imparted thereto 'by means of a handle 101 causes the entire mechanism comprising motor 45, forming tool 7 yokes 97 and 91 and arm 94 to travel radially away from or toward the vertical guide 3. "In view of the fact that the radius rod- 65 makes an Vangle with the guide 64, the forming tool 7 will make a greater angle with the vertical as the mechanism is moved towards the vertical guide 3 and a smaller angle with the vertical as the mechanism is moved away from the rod 3.

The operation of this modified form of apparatus will be evident to those skilled in the art in view of the description of the operation given regarding the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the'details of construction herein set forth as my invention is susceptible to various modifications without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

1 claim 1. 1n a device of the class described, the combination of a work support, a thread turning machine, a working tool, a track, means operably connecting the thread turn ing machine with said track, means for supporting said tool from said track, a radiusI arm adjustably mounted at an anglekto said track, and means operably connecting, said tool with said radius arm to maintain said tool in position substantially perpendicular to each pitch angle of thethread segment being formed.

2. 1n la device of the class described, the

combination of a work support, a working stantially perpendicular toeach pitch angie y of the thread segment being formed. f

3. In. a device of the classl described,rthe vcombination of a vertical rod, a sleeve on said rod, Vmeans for moving saidsleeve onv said rod when said sleeve is angularly displaced thereon, a cutting tool supportattached tov said sleeve comprising a threaded shaft and a guide rod extending radially from said sleeve and parallel topeach other, a raidus rod extending from said sleeve and at a predetermined angle with said shaft and guide rod, a collar threadedly mounted on said shaft, a. yoke,pivotallyconnected to said collar, a lever slidablymounted on said guide and adapted to cooperate with said radius rod,vsaid lever being pivotally connected with said yoke, a cutting tool pivotally carried by the yoke, and means operated byV said lever for pivoting saidvcutting tool.

n 4. Inra device of the character described, `the combination of la ,vertical rod, a sleeve and lrackgear on said rod, means for :moving said sleeve on said rod, when sald'sleeve is angularly Ydisplacedthereon, said means including a rack gear carried by the sleeve, a

fixed horizontally disposed gear segment, aV

horizontally movable gear train adapted to maintain said rack and serment inoperative contact, a cutting tool support attached tov `said sleeve, comprising a threaded shaft and a guide rod extending radially from said sleeve and parallel to each other, a radius rod extending from said sleeve, means for posi# tioning said radius rod at a predetermined angle with said shaft and guide rod, a lever slidably mounted on said guide 'rodA and adapted to cooperate with said radius rod,

angularly displaced thereon, said means including a rackvgear carried by the sleeve, a fixed horizontally disposed gear segment, a

horizontally movable gear train adapted toV maintain said rack and segment in operative Contact, a cutting tool support attached to said sleeve, comprising a threadedshaft and a guiderod extending radially from' said sleeve and parallel to each other, a radius rod extending from said sleeve, means for posif tioning said radius rod at a predetermined angle with said shaft and guide rod, a lever slidably mounted on said guide rod and adapted to cooperate with said radius rod, a cutting ytoolsuspended Vfrom said lever, and means operated by rotation of lsaid shaft for moving said lever and cutting toolsuspended theiefrom longitudinally upon said rod and sha t.

6. In a device ofthe' class described, the combination of a vertical rod, a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod, a cutting tool sup-. porting and guiding means attached to said sleeve and extending radially therefrom, a cutting tool pivotally suspended from said supporting and guiding means, means for moving said cutting tool along said supporting and sleeve and extending radially therefrom, ay

cutting tool pivotally suspended from said supporting and guiding means, means for moving said cutting tool-along said supporting and guiding means, means for raising and lowering said sleeve, supporting and guiding means and cutting tool when said sleeve is partially rotated about said rod,

to move the cutting tool over work during.

said partial rotation to form a thread segment therein, and means for pivoting said cutting tool to maintain the same-substantially perpendicular to pitch angle of the segment being cut.

8. ln a device of the class described, the combination of a vertical rod, a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod, a cutting tool supporting and guiding meansattached to said sleeve and extending radially therefrom,'a linkage suspension movable along said cutting tool supporting and guidingmeans and including a cutting tool pivotally carried by said linkage means for moving said;

cutting tool and linkage along said supporting and guiding means, means for raising and lowering said sleeve, supporting and guiding means and cutting tool when said sleeve is partially rotated about said rod to move the cutting tool over work duringsaid partial rotation, to form a thread segment therein.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a vertical rod, a sleeve slidably mounted on said rod, a cutting tool supporting and guiding means attached to said sleeve and extending radially therefrom, a linkage suspension movable along said cutting tool supporting and guiding means and including a cutting tool pivotally carried by said linkage means, for moving said cutting tool and linkage along said supporting and guiding means, means for raising and lowering said sleeve, supporting and guiding means and cutting tool when said sleeve is partially rotated about said rod to move the guiding means, and means for raising and lowering said sleeve and cuttingv cutting toolover workV duringv said partial rotation, to form a thread segment therein, and means actuated 'by movement of said linka ge' suspension alongsaid supporting and guiding means for pivoting thel cutting tool to maintain the same substantially perpendicular to pitch angle of thread segment being out.

combination of a vertical rod, a sleeve on said rod, means formoving said sleeve on said rod when said sleeve'is angularly displaced thereon, a cutting tool supportingand guiding means attached to the said sleeve, said supporting means comprising a threaded sha-ft and a guide rod extending radially from said sleeve and parallel to each other,

n a radius rod extending from said sleeve at an angle with said shaft and guide rod, a collar threadedlymounted on said shaft, a yoke pivotally connected to said collara lever' slidably mounted on said guide and adapted to cooperate with said radius rod, said lever being pivotally connected with said yoke, a cutting tool pivotally carried by the yoke, means operated by said lever for pivoting said cutting tool, and means for rotatingsaid threaded shaft for moving said collar, yokevand `lever longitudinally along said shaft and guide rod.

` l1. In a device of the'class described, the combination of a vertical rod, a sleeve and rack gear on said rod, means for moving said sleeve vertically upon said rod when` said sleeve ispartially rotated thereon, a cutting tool support attached to said sleeve, comprising a threaded shaft and a guide rod extending radially from said sleeve and parallel to each other, a radius rod extending from said sleeve and angularly positioned with respect tovsaid shaft andguiderod, a lever slidably mounted on said guide rod and adapted to cooperate with said radius rod, a cutting tool i suspended from said lever, and means actuated by rotation of said threaded shaft for moving said lever'and'cutting tool longitudinally along said guide rod.

` Signed ,at Los Angeles, California, this 17th day of May, 1928.

WALTER'F. NEWBROUGH.

10. In a device of the class described, the

lli() 

